Houlihan Lawrence Announces Agreement to Join HomeServices of America, Inc.

Minneapolis, Minn. (January 17, 2017) – HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, today announced the acquisition of Houlihan Lawrence, one of the leading real estate firms serving New York City’s northern suburbs. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Headquartered in the northern suburbs of New York City, Houlihan Lawrence serves the Westchester, Fairfield, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties of New York and Connecticut with 1,300 sales associates operating in 30 sales offices. In 2016, Houlihan Lawrence closed $6.7 billion of sales volume.

Established in 1888, Houlihan Lawrence has been known to generations of buyers and sellers for its leadership in luxury representation and local expertise delivered by a team of knowledgeable agents coupled with the firm’s renowned advanced technologies and data driven insights. Nancy Seaman will step aside as chairman while her brothers Stephen Meyers, president and CEO, and Chris Meyers, managing principal, will continue to lead the firm’s strategic growth initiatives and manage day-to-day operations together with their sales management teams. Houlihan Lawrence, like other locally-branded brokerage companies under the HomeServices umbrella, will retain its name.

“We are joining an organization known for its strength and stability, said Stephen Meyers. “Our partnership secures the future of the firm without changing the exceptional culture that is core to our storied brand. We are thrilled with this announcement and the many benefits it brings to our clients and agents.”

“When you combine the incredible strength of our people and the remarkable history of our success with the unsurpassed financial stability of HomeServices, there is no limit to what we can accomplish,” added Chris Meyers.

“Nancy, Stephen and Chris, together with their team of sales managers and agents, have built an extraordinary organization and exemplify a level of expertise and leadership that is second-to-none in the real estate business today,” said Ron Peltier, chairman and CEO, HomeServices. “Their culture of integrity and innovation closely aligns with our corporate vision and our emphasis on customer value and results.”

With this transaction, HomeServices has nearly 29,500 real estate professionals operating in nearly 570 offices across 28 states. In 2016, the company’s associates facilitated more than $93 billion in residential real estate sales.

“This is an important transaction to HomeServices,” concluded Peltier. “And we are very proud to welcome Houlihan Lawrence to the HomeServices family.”


Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Establishes Presence in New York City

NEW YORK, NY (Jan. 9, 2017) – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices announced today that Manhattan real estate leader Ellie Johnson has joined the network to direct its first New York City affiliation, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New York Properties.

Johnson and New York Properties are part of the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties/Westchester Properties family, which continues its strategic expansion in the Northeast under the leadership of CEO Candace Adams. New England Properties, a Wallingford, CT-based company owned by HomeServices of America, entered Westchester County, NY in 2015 with the acquisitions of brokerages operating in Scarsdale, Larchmont and Eastchester. The brokerage expanded into Rye in 2016.

“We are elated to attract such a talented and respected leader in Ellie Johnson and at the same time enter the New York City real estate market,” said Adams. “This is a monumental step for our brokerage as we look to expand our presence in the Northeast.”

Gino Blefari, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, said New York Properties is vital to the network’s global expansion strategy that begins in 2017. “New York City is the gateway to America and the hub for global industry and finance,” he said. “Our presence in Manhattan is a key factor in our expansion into Western Europe and other parts of the world.”

Blefari added that New York Properties will benefit from all-star leadership. “Ellie has earned a legacy of significant success in the marketplace, and Candace ranks among the finest in real estate brokerage operators. We’re excited to help this brokerage grow.”

Johnson comes to her position from Sotheby’s International Realty, where for 11 years she managed the network’s Upper East Side New York office to perennial sales-volume leadership.

“I’m honored to represent the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand in Manhattan,” said Johnson, who is president of New York Properties. “The brand carries the name of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc., one of the world’s most trusted and respected corporations. We are confident the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices brand will be warmly embraced in Manhattan, as it has been throughout America.

“I am excited to lead New York Properties and uphold the tradition of excellence established by Candace and the team at New England Properties,” Johnson continued. “We’ll leverage our knowledge, experience and associations in New York City to quickly move our brokerage forward.”

The brokerage office is the next in an ongoing list of strategic growth initiatives launched by HomeServices of America, the nation’s second-largest real estate brokerage company. Ron Peltier, HomeServices’ chairman and CEO, applauded New York Properties’ arrival. “We are committed to regional expansion and we’re thrilled to establish such a quality presence in New York City,” he said. “With Ellie leading the way in Manhattan, backed by Candace’s leadership, we are well-positioned for long-term growth.”

New York Properties operates at 590 Madison Ave, 37th Floor, New York, NY 10022; (212) 710-1900. Visit www.bhhsnyproperties.com.

About Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is based in Irvine, CA. The network, among the few organizations entrusted to use the world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway name, brings to the real estate market a definitive mark of trust, integrity, stability and longevity. Visit www.berkshirehathawayhs.com.

Irvine, CA-based HSF Affiliates LLC operates the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Prudential Real Estate and Real Living Real Estate franchise networks. The company is a joint venture of which HomeServices of America, Inc., the nation’s second-largest, full-service residential brokerage firm, is a majority owner. HomeServices of America is an affiliate of world-renowned Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, and are used under license with no other affiliation with Prudential.

Media Contacts:

Kevin Ostler (949) 794-7980 kevinostler@hsfranchise.com

Alyssa Camacho (212) 642-7732

alyssa.camacho@edelman.com